Even worse, is that even much of its exterior elegance and décor had been confiscated by vandals. But still Kimball Castle holds a mystique and attraction that makes one want to visit there and learn of the history of those who built it and whom once lived there.

Near the Castle there remains over 200 acres of land that, thanks to the last resident of the castle, Charlotte Kimball, was turned into the Lockes Hill Nature Preserve. Charlotte lived at Kimball Castle every summer until she passed away in August of 1960.

Kimball Castle was built in 1897 by Benjamin Ames Kimball whose fortune was made in the Railroad industry. He and his brother John had started a machine shop when Benjamin was only 16 years old. Benjamin was so skilled at his trade that he worked his way to the top position of the company while putting himself through Dartmouth College and earning his Bachelor of Science degree with top honors.

In 1861 he married Myra Tilton Elliot. The Kimball’s were great lovers of fine arts and treasures and accumulated many beautiful pieces over their lives. Some of these were able to be saved and protected before the castle was vandalized and remain preserved in museums to this day.

Throughout his business career Mr. Kimball served as presidents to many influential companies and banks and brought them all to great financial success all the while increasing his net worth as well. One of the last influential positions Benjamin Kimball held during his career was President of the Concord Montreal Railroad through which he increased tourism, manufacturing and overall prosperity for the State of New Hampshire with the development of the railway. He also served and held positions in many political, civil and social offices. Mr. Benjamin Kimball was well known for his generosity with his fortune and appropriated funds to upgrade and modernize industry, tourism and beautification to New Hampshire.

Kimball Castle took two years to complete and was an architectural masterpiece of its time. Mr. Kimball spared no expense on its beautification. He dressed it up with an ornate interior fully furnished with expensive woods, brass, meticulous hand carvings and all the treasures and art works him and his wife Myra had accumulated over the years. The exterior flourished with gardens, fountains, majestic statues and wrought iron gates. The archway that leads to the entrance and the huge castle doors opening into castle are still there, although lacking the luster they once had. I can only imagine what the doors and the castle looked like when it was just built and in its full glory.

The castle is two stories high and had six chimneys, all of which can still be seen there today. History has it that inside were 7 fireplaces, four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 kitchens as well as living quarters for the servants. We could not access the inside as everything is now closed or boarded up. It would be so awesome to see this once great and one of a kind in the area, structure developed into a museum or perhaps a bed and breakfast or hotel and restored to its original beauty. But, the way it has fallen into ruin would certainly take a great deal of financing to restore it.

Accompanying the castle and still remaining today are several other structures; a lovely gazebo that sits up high enough to glance at the beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, a stable where horses were kept and a smaller house fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom where the worker that took care of the horses and livestock had lived, a carriage house with three large bays, an icehouse for refrigeration, a pump house which carried the water to the castle and a house for the gardener.

Benjamin Kimball passed away in 1920 and his son Henry died a year before this in 1919. The only remaining Kimball heir to live in the castle was Henry’s wife Charlotte and she used the Castle as her summer home every year until she passed away in 1960.

Upon our visit to Kimball Castle we did notice a ladder and some electrical cords and equipment as though someone was attempting some form of repair to the Castle. The gardeners cottage had furniture on the porch and curtains in the window so it appeared as if someone was living here but no one was present all the while we visited. The roof of the carriage house was really wearing out but you could still see the three openings to where doors once were. The grounds are unkempt and overgrown but while standing on the path near the castle I could still capture the awesome view of the lakes and mountains. Even in its current state of disrepair, Kimball castle remains a marvel. If you use your imagination you can easily go back in time to when it stood proudly in grandeur overlooking the beauty of the region. We snapped several pictures as we sat in the archways and entrances and stood in the gazebo. I could picture a beautiful summer day gazing out upon the lake with the smell of flowers in the air such as the Kimball’s would have surely enjoyed whilst they lived in this quiet and peaceful palace. But as you slowly open your eyes you once again are saddened and see this once paradise falling rapidly into ruin. Nevertheless, our journey to Kimball Castle remains a vivid memory for me and my friends. We finished our visit with some excellent food and a couple beers at Patrick’s Pub and Eatery.

Whether Kimball Castle is haunted or not is hard to say but it certainly would stand to reason that the Kimball’s who passionately loved the peace and solitude and beautiful view of the lakes region might come back from time to time to visit in hopes that someday someone might take on a labor of love to restore it to its grandeur. I did do a quick EVP ( Electronic Voice Phenomena) while visiting Kimball Castle to see if, perhaps, an unseen visitor or past resident from days long gone by might still be lingering about . Surprisingly, I recorded a message saying, “Stop the talking!” I guess the Kimball’s enjoy their quiet time on top of the mountain and did not much appreciate me making noise.